I have just used the paperclip method to determine why my ses light would come on and found that I have

#32 EGR System Fault

#45 Oxygen Sensor System Rich

I have searched through the board and found some info, but I feel the two are related, or could be, so I'm hoping some of you mechanically inclined folks here could point me in the right direction on where to start to solve these problems.

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Jim

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I would say they are related in the sense that your system is running rich resulting in a build up in the EGR and at the oxygen sensor. Both should be removed and cleaned. However, I would think an underlying sensor may be at fault.. the ECTS ( engine coolant temperature sensor ) or its connector...

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Pulled the EGR and the Oxygen sensor and cleaned both. The EGR did not move all that smoothly, so I cleaned it up with carb cleaner, soaked it awhile and it moved much better.

I also pulled the connector on the ECTS and it was fine, no corrosion at all.

Put everything back together, but cleaned the throttle body with carb cleaner prior to doing so.

Cleared the SES memory and took her for a 15 minute drive. So far, so good. No SES light came on. She seems to run much smoother than before also.

I'm wondering if i should just go ahead and change out the ECTS anyways. It is only $21 from the local Saturn dealer. Albeit, I am getting 34mpg (Imperial gal.) presently, but I only do highway driving.

I also paid attention to Idle rpm's, and they are sitting around 1100 -1200. Is this to high? I believe I read somewhere that 700 idle is proper.

Thanks very much !!!

Jim

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Yes ..if that is the original resin ECTS, you will see why it needs to be changed when removed. Replacement is brass and may be the reason for the higher idle. Change out is with a 13mm deep 6 point socket.

Good job and good luck..

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Even if the existing ECTS looks fine, if it's the old resin tip, it's at risk of failure. It's not so much a "wear out" part as a "point of failure". And the replacement, being brass, is a lifetime part. IOW, it's what should have been installed in the first place. So yeah, replace it, for good measure. 34 MP(I)G is only about 27 MP(US)G, which is low, esp. for an SOHC.

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I should also mention that when I had everything apart, the harness and connector were brand spanking new, so that leads me to believe that the ECTS is also brand new.

Probably so (good). If you wanna verify, peer in there again, and disconnect the connector and look at the outside of the sensor, and compare with this photo. See the exposed part of the two sensors? See how, just outboard of the hex flats, the new sensor has a "shoulder" that the old one doesn't?

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